“Suddenly the white man jumped ahead,” The Age declared, producing a Styrofoam igloo “so superior to the one of snow blocks … that the Eskimo has even praised the efficiency of the new invention.”
“Suddenly the white man jumped ahead,” The Age declared, producing a Styrofoam igloo “so superior to the one of snow blocks … that the Eskimo has even praised the efficiency of the new invention.”
The Styrofoam igloos may not have been “Better Than Snow Houses,” as The Age boldly stated, but they are an eccentric example of what can happen when Inuit housing projects are developed with cultural sensitivity and lived experience in mind. Solving the Inuit housing crisis will require cultural consultation and well-funded housing that once again reflects Inuit needs.
The phrase “white man’s burden” comes to mind. Why is their livelihood our responsibility? I tell you what would help their housing needs, more economic development and less romanticism.
Or, less “economic development” and less romanticism.
“Why is their livelihood our responsibility?”
It isn’t and it should not be. Nor is preservation of their alleged culture and heritage. One can hardly think of people who achieved less despite having access to more.
“One can hardly think of people who achieved less despite having access to more.”
Do you have any idea where these people live and under what conditions? You should visit the Eskimo Museum in Churchill Manitoba, perhaps.
Yes, they live in a self imposed, pointless, subsistent, third world exile. They choose to do so while demanding that the rest of the country subsidizes their choice. Given how much they cost the country, my statement is accurate.
Also they contribute nothing.
Wow. So tell me wise one. Where should they move to? Toronto? Winnipeg? Your place? Ever seen Eskimo art, by the way? Hunted a caribou? Lived above the circle? I doubt you could achieve as much if your life depended on it.
Thomas, “loudmouth” is and always has been disconnected from reality, the COLON exemplifies ignorance, on many topics. I doubt he has ever been an were outside his Toronto suburb .
“Why is their livelihood our responsibility?”
Who exactly is “our”?
My dad worked for Federal Electric on the DEW line from 1958 to 1971. He had a lot of stories but I never heard of these.
These projects were intended to solve high instances of illness and infant mortality associated with traditional self-built structures while maintaining existing forms of Inuit housing.
okay…traditional you say? Please elaborate.
This is a “problem” that whitey needs to walkaway from.
Whitey can’t. Whitey has to pay. Send New Munnnah, old Munnnah all gone.
Cultural appropriation. Hence the correct response is to neither say nor do … anything. Just walk away …
Everything the Canadian federal gov’t touches, turns to shit.
“Everything the Canadian federal gov’t touches, turns to shit.” Aye, and that’s the rub, ain’t it marc. Now with the sock monkey running things the shit is turning to diarrhea!
Worse, he expects us to eat it with a smile on our face!
Styrofoam igloos with propane heat!!. What could go wrong with that??
Plainz, that was my first thought when I read the article, just how stupid were these gubbermental idiots?
The Eskimo were given southern-style houses and welfare benefits because misguided southerners wanted to help them—with taxpayer money of course.
All we got in return for our money is proof the Eskimo weren’t worth trying to help.
When the Red Chinese take full possession of Chinada Province, I can guarantee you they won’t throw any more good money after bad in “Nunavut.”
What I can’t guarantee is whether the Eskimo will survive what the new management have in store for them.
What I got from this stupidity…
Those freaken tiny Styrofoam balls are all over the place and cling to everything.
Also, they are made from ‘fossil fuels’, the enemy of environmental nutbars.
And, highly flammable when trying to keep warm.
More environmental damage from bad planning projections.
Hate being a bubble bursting realist, but come on.
In those days Dow Chemical thought they could solve all the worlds problems by bonding molecules with heat and pressure. Teams of research chemists make cool looking stuff in the labs and corporate egg heads find applications and if one isn’t readably available…create one. Silicone for breast implants being a prime example. God only knows how many houses are sheathed with Styrofoam so you know that nondegradeable shit is going to end up in a landfill someday.
Pro tip: Never drink a hot beverage from a styrofoam cup.